tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55712139850506819492017-09-14T12:18:16.977-04:00Kulz's Captured ImaginationI imagine things. Then I hunt them down, capture them, and force them onto the page.George Kulznoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-50146000580414961752016-08-11T13:29:00.002-04:002016-08-11T13:29:56.854-04:00Like a Boomerang - I'm Back!<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hi all</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It seems that life takes out a flyswatter every so often and whacks me upside the head, and when I finally come to, months have passed. But fear not. I'm just giving this quick update to let you know that I'm still around and still writing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the beginning of the year, I set some new goals for myself. I put aside all my old writing and resolved to write one new piece of writing per month and to work on one brand spanking new book this year.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So how am I doing?&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So far, the one new piece of writing a month - which I'm referring to as George's year of half-baked ideas - is working out swimmingly. I've even had one month where I wrote more than one. None of those pieces will win any awards, even if you set the bar REALLY low (with a couple exceptions, which I'll go into in a minute), but the work is getting done, which is the most important thing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As for the book, well, that's a whole other story. I DO have an idea. I've had it kicking around for a long time but didn't know what to do with it. Then I attended the Writing in Reverse workshop given by K. R. Conway (<a href="https://capecodscribe.com/">https://capecodscribe.com</a>) at the New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators spring conference, and suddenly it opened my eyes to a whole new way of approaching my novel idea. It also forced me to point out some problems I've been creating for myself when writing novels in the past. Now granted, the techniques I learned are more in line with a "plotter" type of writer, and I consider myself more of a "pantser", but I'm hoping that a combination of these two disciplines will be the way to go. The notes I took at this conference will definitely help me get there. Even though I haven't technically started my new novel yet, there's also National Novel Writing Month coming up in November, and if I can get the "plotter" stuff out of the way before then, I'll be free to write by the seat of my pants like I normally do.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">One final thing. Back to the one piece of writing a month thing. Not all of my new ideas are in the rough draft, unsubmittable state. I decided to submit two of the pieces, both of them non-fiction geared toward 3rd-4th graders, as part of a submission package to a publisher where I was hoping for an opportunity for some write-for-hire type of work - another first for me. The editor who reviewed my work loved my writing, so now I'm (hopefully) in the rotation for new work that might come! For now, I'll leave out the details until something more concrete happens, but it did help to justify my decision to come up with some new, fresh ideas for this year.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">That is all for now. I'm off to buzz around a bit more and avoid the flyswatters so that I can come back for another report soon. Also, I have a huge backlog of books to review for George's Backlogged Book Reviews page, which I'll hopefully be getting to soon as well. So stay tuned!</span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-65996537048974853882016-04-29T12:25:00.000-04:002016-04-29T12:25:44.990-04:00Cover Reveal for Death of an Assassin by Ian Hiatt<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hi all</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Author Ian Hiatt is busy working on release info for his first novel, Death of an Assassin, which will be out June 16th of this year, so he'll be guest blogging closer to that time. <b>&nbsp;</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I</b>n the meantime, I am including the description and the cover reveal of his new book here, along with info on the author, so you can check out more upcoming details and news directly from him.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, without further ado, here is the cover of Ian Hiatt's new book, Death of an Assassin.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ALedee9NKdQ/VyNgziCHaLI/AAAAAAAAAOk/yTXXGX-t3jgI2KvFtxGof0joHEw2qPfWwCK4B/s1600/Death%2Bof%2Ban%2BAssassin%2Bcover1000.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ALedee9NKdQ/VyNgziCHaLI/AAAAAAAAAOk/yTXXGX-t3jgI2KvFtxGof0joHEw2qPfWwCK4B/s400/Death%2Bof%2Ban%2BAssassin%2Bcover1000.jpg" width="266" />&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">How cool is that? And if you think the cover is awesome, the description will hook you even more. This one's definitely going on my To Read list:</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Description:<br /><br />Technically, Layla hasn't killed anyone. Ask the witnesses. It was a misstep here, a trip-and-fall there—accidents happen.<br /><br />And Layla is paid very well to ensure that they do.<br /><br />Her mother once traced their lineage back to ancient times. Go flip throughThe Odyssey. Some great-great-great grandmother is in there beckoning sailors to rocky deaths. For eons her kind has made it their business to bring hapless men to quick and messy ends. Layla can't help it that Saint Roch City has job listings for someone who can cause blameless death. You go where the work is.<br /><br />When the most difficult hit of her career goes sideways, Layla finds out that what she's been told about her own history may not be so accurate. And there is no forgiveness in the business of assassinations. When you're paid to kill someone, there better be a dead body.<br /><br />Either the mark's—or yours.</b></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">If you would like to learn more info about Ian Hiatt and follow his journey to publication, or if you would like to know where you can find his book, you can check out his bio, where I've included information on where else he can be found on the Internets:</span></span><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Bio:<br /><br />Ian Hiatt is the crazy guy who lives on your block. You know the one that all the neighborhood kids point at and whisper about. He’s cleverly hidden himself by marrying an incredibly tolerant woman and finding himself an adorable dog. This is the best disguise for living in New England. The villagers have not yet run him out of his castle.<br /><br />When he’s not scrawling delusional words about mythical-filled cities or dinosaurs, he’s busy tapping out code for websites and software. If he’s kept away from writing implements, he treks aimlessly through forests hiking trails, across abandoned beaches, and wandering the shelves bookstores. These three things don’t overlap except for that one time, and that was a really weird day.</span></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4566"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4565"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Links:</span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4564"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4562"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Official Website: <a href="http://www.ianhiatt.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4586" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.ianhiatt.com</a></span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4469"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />Goodreads:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28547648-death-of-an-assassin">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28547648-death-of-an-assassin</a></span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4468"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4467"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Amazon:&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.com/B01ETOGUEM"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1461934409640_4667" style="color: #111111; line-height: 19px;">http://amzn.com/B01ETOGUEM</span></a></span></span></b></div>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-1271367210291892512016-04-26T16:12:00.002-04:002016-04-26T16:12:22.596-04:00Upcoming Stuff<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hi all</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just checking in for a bit to let you know what's happening.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, I'm still on track with my goals, although this month has been incredibly busy. Seeing as though I've had little time to write, I only managed to get in 10 words. But, it's a story! And, I did something I said I wouldn't do. I submitted it to a contest. For anyone who's interested in what the 10-word story contest could possibly be, check it out here. There's still time to submit your own 10-word masterpieces,<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> and if y<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ou win, you could have a chance to take a f<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ree writing course at <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">Goth<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">am Writers Worksho<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">p</span></span></span></span></span></span>:</span></span><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_485797589"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></a><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.writingclasses.com/contest/very-short-story-contest-2016">https://www.writingclasses.com/contest/very-short-story-contest-2016</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second, <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">after y<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ears of being away, I'll be <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">attending the 201<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">6 Spring New Engl<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">and Socie<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ty</span> of Children's <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">Book Writer<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">s and <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">Ill<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ustrators confer<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ence<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">. I'm excit<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ed to finally be going back to this. In past years, I've <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">opted to go to Book Expo America instead <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">- thu<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">s all the books I've been reviewing <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">here<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">-</span></span></span></span></span> but I feel I need to<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> get back to the writer conference<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">s for some inspiration. I'm doing an abridged version this year. It's a <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">3<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">-day conference, bu<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">t I'll only be atten<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ding 2. I<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> opted not to have <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">any of my work professionally critiqued<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">, mainly because I made the<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> decision to put away all my old writing for <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">this year. Also, none <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">of my new writing is<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> ready to be professionally critiqued.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">Finally, <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">th<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">is Friday, I'll have a <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">guest on my blog<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> - <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">author Ian Hiatt<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"> - <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">who wil<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">l be reve<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">aling the cover of his <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">first <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">novel and will have some words to s<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ay <span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">about it. It's always exciting to hear about first nove<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">l news</span>!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;"><span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">That's all I got for n<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ow. Thanks for list<span style="font-family: &quot;courier new&quot; , &quot;courier&quot; , monospace;">ening. </span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-7137822062603523222016-02-23T12:58:00.001-05:002016-02-23T12:58:09.037-05:002016 Goals - Better Late Than Never<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hi all</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I suppose you're all wondering where I've been. Not to worry. I'm still writing. I've just stepped back a little bit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the beginning of this year, I reviewed my goals for 2015, and I found that I didn't do too badly. To summarize, they were:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. Submit one previously unpublished story per month.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. Submit one book.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I basically missed May, August, and November of goal #1, but I hit all the other goals. However, at the end of the year, I felt very discouraged. Between the rejections and the fact that most of the submissions were older ones I had kicking around that didn't have a home, I felt creatively bankrupt. I felt I needed to do something to "prime the idea pump", as they say.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, without further ado, here are my goals for 2016 - better late than never, I always say:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. Write one new piece per month.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. Write one new book.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"But wait, George," you say. "Just hold on a minute. Aren't those goals pretty much the same ones as last year?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Au contraire, my fine blog reader friends. They are NOT the same. In fact, there are two distinct differences between this year's goals and last year's.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The first is the word "new". This year, I have decided to shelf all my completed work. It's going in the bottom drawer. It's gathering dust for the year. Based on feedback I've been receiving on some of them, it's just as well. I get the sense the literary world is tired of seeing it.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">More importantly, I'm starting to feel the same way. I've been looking at some of them for far too long. It's time to put them away, start something fresh, and learn new things, in the hopes that when the day comes where I take those out of the bottom drawer again, I can look at them with a fresh perspective.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The second is a little more subtle. Notice that I didn't use the word "submit" but rather the word "write". This takes the pressure off me to send something out every month that may not be ready to go. I don't need any of the baby birds to go plummeting to their deaths just because I couldn't wait to kick them out of the nest. This year, they're staying with me for a while until they're really ready.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yes, I'm going to be a helicopter parent to my writing this year.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Also, this frees me to be a little more experimental. I can already tell I'll enjoy having an entire month to try out new ways of telling stories. In fact, for the month of January and February, I've been dabbling in writing poetry, which is something I'm not very, ahem, well-versed in.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So there you have it. My goals for 2016. Let me know what you think. And feel free to share your goals for the year. I'm interested in what others are doing and how things are going.</span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-9559289140348458102015-10-13T12:54:00.001-04:002015-10-13T12:56:27.170-04:00A Slap in the Face, Part 2, or: Evil Editor Strikes Again<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hi all</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's with a heavy heart that I come to you to report on the fate of my query for my MG fantasy novel, Oliver and the Underlings. See, I did it again. I sent another version of the query to Evil Editor, and, well... &nbsp;here, see for yourself:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/10/feedback-request_9.html">http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/10/feedback-request_9.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's times like these where I question why I'm doing this writing thing, and my sanity. Instead of making progress, I appear to be going backward.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've had people ask me why I just don't work on another project and put the current ones - Oliver an the Underlings and The Vanilla Wafer Chronicles - aside. To answer that question, let me provide a glimpse into my writing schedule:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sunday - no writing time</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Monday through Friday - 1 hour per day available to write</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Saturday - no writing time</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In that one hour per day that I have to write, I have to decide the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Do I work on something new?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I work on an existing project?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I critique something that I've promised to someone else?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I write a blog post such as this one?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Do I write a book review?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I read?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I take care of some other personal business that needs &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;taking care of?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;Do&nbsp;I do none of the above and go out for a walk or something?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thinking about this logically, the best course of action would be to get the existing projects to a point where they're viable for publication. The rest of the options seem either insurmountable or activities that, while all necessary, noble, and/or enjoyable, take me away from my own writing.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In addition, and with all logic aside, I have a passion for these finished books. I feel there IS something important there, even if no one else can see it because I can't seem to convey that effectively to others.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If there's anyone out there reading this blog, do you struggle with any of these issues? Are you restricted with the time you have to write? How do you decide what to do during the times you sit down at your desk? Do you finish current projects first before starting something new? What do you do when a query is just not hitting any marks? Is there somewhere you go to for help? Do you shelf it and start something else?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Feel free to chime in with any advice in the comments.</span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-83711927278491730742015-09-29T12:58:00.000-04:002015-09-29T12:58:03.575-04:00Writing Intentions Check-InHi all<br /><br />Just a quick check-in with my writing intentions for the year.<br /><br />In a word? They're going: OK.<br /><br />Here's where things stand so far:<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="&#45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">My writing goals for 2015:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1. </span>Submit at least one previously unpublished story per month: NOT MET - missed May and August so far</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">2. <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA;">Submit at least one book for the year: DONE!</span></div><br /> <br /><br />May came and knocked me around a bit, between kids' end of school things, work-related projects, etc. What happened in August? I'm not sure. Maybe the Universe really does require balance and thought I needed to skip the 5th month from the END of the year along with the 5th month from the BEGINNING of the year.<br /><br />As for getting any of my submissions published, no such luck in that dept. either. Rejections, or no answers, so far.<br /><br />So do I just throw in the towel on the whole writing intentions thing? I want to sometimes. I hate it when I don't meet my own goals. But then I shake my head, dust myself off, and keep writing, because that's what writers do. They fall short of their goals, they miss deadlines, they try harder, and sometimes - and let's be honest, it really is sometimes - succeed! But that sometimes can only happen by putting in the effort. Otherwise, the sometimes turns into never.George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-75874927131180287392015-05-07T12:32:00.000-04:002015-05-07T12:32:00.041-04:002015 Writing Intentions Progress, May Days, and BEAHi all<br /><br />Sorry for the long absence, but a lot of things have been going on, both non-writing and writing related.<br /><br />Here's a summary of my writing related activities:<br /><br />First, just a quick update on my writing intentions for this year. So far, I'm on track! In March, I only submitted one story, and it's one that I've submitted before, but I did a bit of editing on it and sent it out. It got rejected recently, but that's OK. Rejections are a sign of activity for a writer. In April, I sent out an application for the Boston Public Library's Children's Writer-in- Residence Program, which is a program designed to give both financial support and an office space to emerging writers who are currently working on a children's book. Last year, I applied using my middle grade novel Oliver and the Underlings as my proposed book. This year, I entered using The Vanilla Wafer Chronicles. The selected winner will be announced in July. Keeping my fingers, toes, etc. crossed!<br /><br />Second, I am currently participating in the May Days challenge which a bunch of my writer friends are participating in. The goal is to just get people writing every day for the month of May. I saw that the original concept for the group was to write at least 2 pages a day, so I'm making that my goal, since I tend to work better with concrete goals such as that. So far, I've only written 10 pages of a new novel I'm working on based on a novelette I had previously written. But it's 10 pages more than I had at the beginning of the month.<br /><br />Finally, I have decided to attend Book Expo America (BEA) 2015. I've mentioned it before, but for those who don't know, BEA is basically the largest book trade fair in the United States. I'm going there because, despite me not wanting to go because I STILL have books from past BEAs I haven't read or reviewed yet, I get to meet some amazing authors and other publishing professionals, hear what's going on in the publishing world, get inspired, and, of course, get an opportunity to get some ARCs of some amazing books by some amazing authors. This year it's being held in New York City from May 27th to May 29th. I also heard next year it's moving to Chicago, which is another reason I've decided to make the trip this year. I doubt I'll have the opportunity to travel to Chicago once it moves. I'll still continue to do my best to review all the books I've gotten there. Keep an eye on George's Backlogged Book Reviews on my blog.<br /><br />That's all the news that's fit to print for now. More to come. Thanks for following!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-69112896913819650892015-02-27T21:48:00.000-05:002015-02-27T21:48:26.125-05:00February Writing IntentionsHi all<br /><br />I'm still on track for my writing intentions for the year. See, setting goals is a big help.<br /><br />Here is a list of what I've been up to this month.<br /><br />1. I submitted a query for my middle grade fantasy novel, Oliver and the Underlings, to Evil Editor, which I mentioned in a previous blog entry. If you want to see my query, and its subsequent tearing apart by Evil Editor, go here:<br /><br /><a href="http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/02/face-lift-1250-already-14-of-way-to-5000.html">http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/02/face-lift-1250-already-14-of-way-to-5000.html</a><br /><br />2. I did some light editing on an old, homeless flash fiction story called "The Liar" and sent it to 365 Tomorrows, which provides a science fiction or speculative flash fiction story every day. If you're interested in either reading or submitting to this market, check it out:<br /><br /><a href="http://365tomorrows.com/">http://365tomorrows.com/</a><br /><br />3. I wrote a brand new piece of flash fiction called "In Search of the Squid" and submitted it to a contest being offered by Flash! Friday. You can check out the current contest here:<br /><br /><a href="https://flashfriday.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/flash-friday-vol-3-12/#comment-29523">https://flashfriday.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/flash-friday-vol-3-12/#comment-29523</a><br /><br />Submissions are still being accepted until 11:59 PM ET tonight if you're interested in entering. My story appears in the comments, submitted at 9:32 PM (to help you find it). Make sure to read all the other stories there, for this contest and past contests.<br /><br />That's most likely all I'll tackle for the month of February, seeing as there is only a day and change left.<br /><br />On to March!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-2801862639995465342015-02-24T12:15:00.003-05:002015-02-24T12:15:49.745-05:00"The Great American Sentence" ContestHi all<br /><br />Recently I was hunting around for some interesting writing contests to satisfy my New Year's writing intentions, and I came across this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.easystreetmag.com/great-american-sentence/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.easystreetmag.com/great-american-sentence/</a><br /><br />Easy Street: a Magazine of Books and Culture is offering a contest where you can send in all those stellar first sentences of your books-in-progress. Or, if you have even more impressive sentences buried in the middle of your works somewhere, you can send those in as well. You can send up to 5 sentences, and winners will be paid $5 per word, or $10 per word if you share information on this contest on your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc).<br /><br />If you're interested, you'd better hurry. Entries will only be accepted for another few days. The contest ends midnight on February 28, EST.<br /><br />If I come across any more interesting contests in my travels, I'll happily pass them along. Check back often!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-83059511831440877942015-02-11T18:56:00.000-05:002015-02-11T19:22:16.440-05:00My Latest (Much-Needed) Slap in the Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7S8B854yU8/VNvrb_kWujI/AAAAAAAAAMc/LJkhqpF2W4A/s1600/no-68481_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7S8B854yU8/VNvrb_kWujI/AAAAAAAAAMc/LJkhqpF2W4A/s1600/no-68481_1280.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rejection. You can't ever really love it, but it's a cold, hard, and sometimes brutal fact when you're a writer and you're submitting material to be read and accepted by an agent or an editor. Your only other alternative is to keep all those stories buried in your notebooks and computer files somewhere, never to see the light of day. But what's the point of that? It's why you write in the first place. For your voice to be heard. For others to get the same excitement and joy from the story that you did when you first wrote it.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Except I think I've reached a point in my life where I DO love rejection. Especially when it comes with some helpful critique, which, as I've mentioned in my most recent post, is coming more and more frequently for me these days. In a world where agents and editors are increasingly busy and more selective, it's great when they can take time and provide some little nuggets to writers. I'm incredibly appreciative of any help they can provide. Personally, I feel the frequency I do get helpful feedback shows that I'm in a good place, that there's something there worth commenting on. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's get back to the brutality of feedback. Recently, I submitted a query for my middle-grade fantasy book, Oliver and the Underlings, to Evil Editor. For those who are unfamiliar with who Evil Editor is... well, I'm not 100% sure myself. All I know is, some anonymous professional in the publishing industry has set up a website to publicly help, and simultaneously ridicule, any writer brave enough to offer up their query for critique. In addition to his feedback, you also get, as an added bonus, his Evil Minions (a.k.a. his readers) supplying humorous interpretations of what your title could possibly mean, as well as his own humorous interpretation of your pitch.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can check out his website here for more information:</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://evileditor.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://evileditor.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I sent my query last week, and today was the day Evil Editor chose to tear it apart. So here is Evil Editor's comments on Oliver and the Underlings, in all their un-glory:&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/02/face-lift-1250-already-14-of-way-to-5000.html">http://evileditor.blogspot.com/2015/02/face-lift-1250-already-14-of-way-to-5000.html </a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the surface, this seems very insulting. Those without a thick skin might slam their laptop closed after reading it and throw it out a window.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On closer inspection, however, there is much to be learned here within the embarrassing commentary.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, queries are all about perception. My book is an innocent middle-grade story about monsters, and yet outside readers picked up on all kinds of inferences I never intended nor realized I was making. One lesson you can take from this is to make sure your intentions are clear and appropriate for the age group you're writing about.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second, queries need to be simple and easy to follow. A main character's goals, journey, and obstacles have to be clear and straightforward. Plus, although your book may have multiple plot lines to it, there is one major plot line that supersedes all others. It will most likely be the one involving the highest stakes for the main character. Find out what it is and make that clear as well.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Third, and this is the scariest realization of all for me, an unclear query might mean an unclear story overall. It makes me wonder whether queries should be written BEFORE the book is finished, almost as a guide to keep things on track. It also makes me wonder if my aversion to writing a synopsis or outline of a story is really a good idea. Although I don't think I'll be giving up my free writing style any time soon. Maybe queries, outlines, etc. would be good tools to use after the initial draft but before doing any real editing.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, was the rejection harsh? Yes. Was it deserved? A little time to sit and think might be best to answer this, but in my case, I believe it is. Were my wounds deep? No. If anything, I liken it to that pain you feel after you've just done a hard workout. It's a good pain, just another step toward getting a healthy book out into the world. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyone else who would like to share their own experiences of rejection and how it has helped you or made your writing stronger, feel free to drop a comment in the box.</span></span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-90150269497010655052015-02-10T12:56:00.002-05:002015-02-10T12:56:29.651-05:00Quick Check-In on 2015 Writing Intentions and Other Goings-On<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hi all</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, just a quick check-in on my intentions for the year.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the month of January, I managed to submit a total of one short story, which means I'm well on my way of fulfilling my goals for the year (one story submitted per month, one book submitted for the year).</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did submit that story TWICE though. The first time it was rejected. The nice thing is, the first rejection came with some great feedback, which I find to be a major improvement and a good indication that my writing is finally making people notice. I'd rather have some great personal rejections any day than the ol' "Sorry, this piece is not right for our publication." Usually when I receive that, either one of two things have happened. Either I've targeted an incorrect market for my story (which is probably the more likely scenario), or the story is so bad that it doesn't even warrant a response. Being a more optimistic person regarding my writing, I always assume it's the first option and try to do a better job at targeting a new market for the piece.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've also been working on improving my query for Oliver and the Underlings. I'll have more news about what I've been doing on that front soon. I've also been working on another book idea that started out life as as novelette, was restarted for NaNoWriMo 2014 (which I didn't get too far with), and is now being re-rewritten. I hope to have that book finished halfway through this year so I can use the other half to possibly polish it up and get it sent out to agents. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you all are busy working on your own writing goals/intentions for this year. Feel free to let me know about your own progress and ups and downs in the comments.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-3373289079143573572014-12-30T11:11:00.003-05:002014-12-30T11:11:49.367-05:00Closing out 2014, Ringing in 2015Hi all<br /><br />Sorry for my absence, but the holidays have been especially busy for me. I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season. I also hope that 2014 has been a productive writing year for all you writers out there.<br /><br />Here are some loose ends I'd like to tie up for 2014:<br /><br />* I didn't succeed at reaching 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo this year. I only managed to reach 10,666 words. But that's 10,666 words more than I had before I started. And, I'm planning on continuing to write that book until it's finished.<br /><br />* I managed to review a few of the Book Expo America 2013 books I have, but I still have a lot more to go. I'm planning to fit in a lot more reading in the coming&nbsp; year, especially because I'd like to go back to BEA next year.<br /><br />* I did submit a few stories this year, but nothing was accepted for publication. I'm setting up some real goals for next year that'll improve my chances though. (See below.)<br /><br />* I DID manage to get paid for some writing this year. I had a write-for-hire project I took on near the end of the year. It was fun, and challenging, and I hope to be able to do more of this type&nbsp;of writing&nbsp;in the coming year.<br /><br />* I've taken a hiatus from the short story writing course I've been taking through my library, but I'm hoping to hop back into it at the beginning of next year.<br /><br />For 2015, I have a couple of cool things lined up, which I'm not quite ready to announce yet. One of them involves an anthology I'm published in, but details are still being worked out. (If you hunt around the internet enough though, you may come across it.) The other involves some big plans I'm thinking of related to writing critique groups. So stay tuned!<br /><br />Now, for New Year's resolutions... <br /><br />In the past two years, I (erroneously) decided that New Year's resolutions weren't necessary. As a result, I've&nbsp; not done much in the way of writing. I've since learned that while New Year's resolutions may not be some people's cup of tea, they DO work well for me. Therefore, I'm forcing myself to do one writing submission a month again. I'd like to say that each submission will be&nbsp;a NEW piece, but I'm not putting that restriction on myself this time. I just need to get back into the habit of submitting pieces for publication. To make it a little more interesting though, I'm forcing myself to make at least one of those submissions a book query. So by the end of 2015, I should have (at the very least) 11 shorter pieces submitted and one book. Now that I've posted it to my blog, I can keep myself honest too.<br /><br />Thank you all for following along this year and for your continued readership. <br /><br />Have a wonderful, safe, and happy New Year!<br /><br />George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-85639860450779621212014-11-06T08:16:00.000-05:002014-11-06T08:16:00.276-05:00NaNoWriMo 2014Hi all<br /><br />I don't have a lot of time for a full blog entry, but I thought I'd let everyone know that I'm attempting to write a novel for National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, as it's affectionately called. I don't know how successful I'll be this time out, since I'm already way behind where I should be, but the point for me is to kick start my writing, even if I don't succeed.<br /><br />For those unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, November is considered National Novel Writing Month, and for most people that equates to a fun challenge of writing an entire novel throughout the month of November. 50,000 words is the minimum amount of words to be considered as a complete novel during this challenge, and there are many people who (somehow) manage to generate much more than that. Still others have gone on from that challenge to clean up those messy first-draft novels and publish them. Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus comes immediately to mind.<br /><br />So why would anyone be crazy enough to write a novel in a month? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here are my top reasons for wanting to do it:<br /><br />1. To give my writing a good kick in the pants.<br />2. To have some accountability. If I tell everyone I'm writing a novel, and this website tracks it, then everyone will know where I'm at with that. (And they can see that I'm currently VERY behind!)<br />3. To tell the internal editor to go on an extended vacation. There's nothing worse than the doubting, critical, "You'll never amount to anything" voice in your head trying to crush your dreams.You just don't have time for that person when you have such a tight deadline.<br />4. To simulate a tight deadline. Many people produce under tons of pressure, myself included.<br />And, most important of all...<br />5. To have some FUN!!!<br /><br />Hopefully you get to experience this for one of those reasons above, or for your own personal ones. Now get out there and write that novel. There's still time to jump in!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-85011450250943408352014-10-28T16:28:00.001-04:002014-12-05T09:59:17.524-05:00Before You Write, See THE RING<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi all</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I stated before, Halloween is my favorite time of year. Like many of you who also enjoy that special day filled with ghouls, goblins, and oh yeah, candy too, one of the things I love to do is to watch some of my favorite scary movies.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span><img alt="Theringpostere.jpg" class="thumbborder" data-file-height="442" data-file-width="299" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/37/Theringpostere.jpg/220px-Theringpostere.jpg" height="325" width="220" /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've found over the years one movie in particular seems to have become a staple of my horror movie diet: The Ring, the A<span style="font-family: inherit;">merican version </span>directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts. For those who may have missed this one (i.e. you've been living under a rock for the last 12 years), here's a little blurb about it:</span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Be<span style="font-family: inherit;">fore you <span style="font-family: inherit;">die, you see the ring<span style="font-family: inherit;">."</span></span></span> </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">It sounded like just another urban legend - videotape filled with nightmarish images, leading to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. As a newspaper reporter, Rachel Keller was naturally skeptical of the story, until f</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our teenagers all met with mysterious deaths exactly one week after watching just such a tape. Allowing her investigative curiosity to get the better of her, Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the "<span style="font-family: inherit;">ring</span>".</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot say enough good things about this movie. I only wish I could go back in time so I can see it through fresh eyes, but even knowing how it turns out every time, it still fascinates me. It's taken me a long time to figure out why, but I think I finally have the answer:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Ring is simply a very well<span style="font-family: inherit;">-</span>constructed story.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Below I've listed what I feel are essentials to any good story and how The Ring makes excellent use of each of these elements.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hook</span></b><br /><br /><img alt="" height="200" src="data:image/png;base64,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" width="320" /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>As I've mentioned in a previous blog post, your opening paragraph in a short story is THE most important part of the story. In a novel, you have a little more leeway, but you'd better have hooked your reader right from page one, otherwise you risk losing him/her.<br /><br />The Ring wastes no time at all hooking the reader. You are immediately drawn into the story as the movie opens with first a discussion between two teenagers about the urban legend of the videotape, followed by the death of one of the teens - the cursed videotape's first victim. It's a pretty creepy opening, and (at the time) it was a pretty unique concept. A "high concept" in fact, which is the buzzword I hear a lot in relation to a story that can be easily pitched with a succinctly-stated premise. It's usually framed by the question "what if", as in: "What if a videotape could cause the death of the viewer exactly seven days after watching it?". This "what if" question, if done well, will cause the reader, or the viewer in this case, to want to ask more questions, &nbsp;like "What exactly is causing these deaths?" and "Where did the tape come from?". Reader/Viewer = hooked.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Conflict</span></b><br /><br /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-plsjk9uShns/UHi09yyMrqI/AAAAAAAAMrw/U5EMp34lxZw/s320/The+Ring+Screenshot+6.jpg" height="180" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 57px;" width="320" /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conflict is essential to a good story, obviously. But there are other important things you should remember about story conflicts. Conflict should be introduced, or hinted at, as early as possible in the story, preferably right on the first page, definitely within the first chapter. Also, there are two kinds of conflict, internal and external (which I've also covered in previous blog posts), and a good story must have both to be effective.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the case of The Ring, the main character's conflict starts a little late for my tastes. The Ring employs a technique I would NOT recommend, namely the use of a prologue which doesn't directly involve the main character, although I suppose it loosely does, since the girl killed at the beginning of the movie is Rachel's niece. Somehow in movies this works though, and I can forgive it in this case for an otherwise perfectly executed movie. The death of Rachel's niece is more like an inciting event, but the real conflict begins when Rachel watches the tape herself.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The problem with the curse placed on Rachel is the external conflict of the story, but there are some internal conflicts going on as well. Rachel's internal conflicts involve her need to protect her son. She also needs to resolve her past history with her son's father in the story. One could argue these are also external conflicts, but because they have such an emotional component to them, I'd categorize them more as internal ones.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Characters</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></b><img class="irc_mut" height="180" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRbCLfWRx1OJ_IfXdyWVYM2TXfti7op2h1qGXvujp10yn6D1cJfKw" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the trend for <span style="font-family: inherit;">typical <span style="font-family: inherit;">horror movies? A bunch of teens get <span style="font-family: inherit;">to<span style="font-family: inherit;">gether for some <span style="font-family: inherit;">partying<span style="font-family: inherit;">, sex, drinking, drugs, what have you. Then <span style="font-family: inherit;">they all get picked off one by one by the <span style="font-family: inherit;">serial <span style="font-family: inherit;">killer, all <span style="font-family: inherit;">dyin<span style="font-family: inherit;">g in interesting and unique <span style="font-family: inherit;">ways, until the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> last survivor gets the <span style="font-family: inherit;">ju<span style="font-family: inherit;">mp on the killer. Or doesn<span style="font-family: inherit;">'t. Whatever. Bla<span style="font-family: inherit;">h. Blah bla<span style="font-family: inherit;">h blah.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The problem with <span style="font-family: inherit;">these types of movi<span style="font-family: inherit;">es is that you could care less about the <span style="font-family: inherit;">characters. They're all <span style="font-family: inherit;">just stock <span style="font-family: inherit;">characters, vehicles <span style="font-family: inherit;">to showcase a lot of blo<span style="font-family: inherit;">odletting and <span style="font-family: inherit;">dep<span style="font-family: inherit;">ravity </span></span>by the killer, wh<span style="font-family: inherit;">o you <span style="font-family: inherit;">crazily wind up rooting for in the<span style="font-family: inherit;">se stories. (<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the only exceptions to my in<span style="font-family: inherit;">difference to these types of movies is The <span style="font-family: inherit;">C<span style="font-family: inherit;">abin in<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the Woods, an excellent movie which deserves a<span style="font-family: inherit;">n entire </span>study <span style="font-family: inherit;">itself<span style="font-family: inherit;">.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want the reader/<span style="font-family: inherit;">viewer to be vest<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed in your story, then you need to create <span style="font-family: inherit;">characters th<span style="font-family: inherit;">at <span style="font-family: inherit;">he/she can relate to<span style="font-family: inherit;">, <span style="font-family: inherit;">root for, and care ab<span style="font-family: inherit;">out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <span style="font-family: inherit;">Ring breaks the <span style="font-family: inherit;">mold for <span style="font-family: inherit;">most horror movies. <span style="font-family: inherit;">It </span>int<span style="font-family: inherit;">ro<span style="font-family: inherit;">duces a mother and son and then pit<span style="font-family: inherit;">s <span style="font-family: inherit;">the curse against<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this bond.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>THIS is what will invest the <span style="font-family: inherit;">w<span style="font-family: inherit;">atcher</span>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">What parent wouldn't cringe knowing <span style="font-family: inherit;">his/her </span>son may die? Or, worse, that he/she will die and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> leave <span style="font-family: inherit;">a </span>child alon<span style="font-family: inherit;">e, defenseless, in the world?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Ticking Clock</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></b><img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TuH5FaUpFm4/hqdefault.jpg" height="240" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 57px;" width="320" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">A great plot device in <span style="font-family: inherit;">many of my favorite stories i<span style="font-family: inherit;">s the "tick<span style="font-family: inherit;">ing <span style="font-family: inherit;">clock"<span style="font-family: inherit;">. The<span style="font-family: inherit;">re's nothing that <span style="font-family: inherit;">invests </span>a reader more than when there's <span style="font-family: inherit;">a chance the main ch<span style="font-family: inherit;">aracter races a<span style="font-family: inherit;">gainst the clock <span style="font-family: inherit;">but </span>MAY NOT SUCCEED in time. This creates tension, suspense, drama, <span style="font-family: inherit;">lots of action, etc. A<span style="font-family: inherit;">ll great keys to a reader's <span style="font-family: inherit;">conti<span style="font-family: inherit;">nued interest and enjoyment of a story.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wh<span style="font-family: inherit;">ere is the "ticking clock" in The Ring? The phon<span style="font-family: inherit;">e call Rachel receive<span style="font-family: inherit;">s after <span style="font-family: inherit;">she <span style="font-family: inherit;">watches the tape tells us: "Se<span style="font-family: inherit;">ven days". She literally has a ticking clock, a period of time <span style="font-family: inherit;">where she MUST figure out how to save herself and those she loves, or they will all die.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raising the Stake<span style="font-family: inherit;">s</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span> </span></b><img src="http://www.neodymsystems.com/ring/r_img/remake/misc/aidan_watches2.jpg" height="173" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 107px;" width="320" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The main character h<span style="font-family: inherit;">as a problem, a<span style="font-family: inherit;">nd then <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">solv<span style="font-family: inherit;">es the problem. End of story. Exc<span style="font-family: inherit;">iting? If you simply describe it that way, not re<span style="font-family: inherit;">al<span style="font-family: inherit;">ly. What<span style="font-family: inherit;">'s so exc<span style="font-family: inherit;">iting about a character who is presented wi<span style="font-family: inherit;">th a problem and then solves it easily, with no <span style="font-family: inherit;">additional risks, obstacles, or conflict<span style="font-family: inherit;">s? Like anything in life, <span style="font-family: inherit;">a goal <span style="font-family: inherit;">means so much more<span style="font-family: inherit;"> if you've had to struggle to rea<span style="font-family: inherit;">ch it<span style="font-family: inherit;">. It's part of the human condition.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In The Ring, it's not enough that Rachel was crazy enoug<span style="font-family: inherit;">h to watch the <span style="font-family: inherit;">tape and now has to figure out&nbsp; how to stop the curse on her. <span style="font-family: inherit;">She t<span style="font-family: inherit;">hen involve<span style="font-family: inherit;">s her estrang<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed boyf<span style="font-family: inherit;">rie<span style="font-family: inherit;">nd, <span style="font-family: inherit;">who i<span style="font-family: inherit;">s also </span></span>her son's father<span style="font-family: inherit;">. <span style="font-family: inherit;">So now she's re<span style="font-family: inherit;">spo<span style="font-family: inherit;">nsible for TWO people. If that weren't bad enough, her son winds up watching the tape. Now the stakes have RE<span style="font-family: inherit;">AL<span style="font-family: inherit;">LY been raised. Aside from these emotiona<span style="font-family: inherit;">l elements, there are other <span style="font-family: inherit;">natural, and super<span style="font-family: inherit;">natural<span style="font-family: inherit;">, for<span style="font-family: inherit;">ces at work to prevent her <span style="font-family: inherit;">from finding the answers she seeks<span style="font-family: inherit;">. (I won't go into th<span style="font-family: inherit;">ose in c<span style="font-family: inherit;">ase you under the rock people stil<span style="font-family: inherit;">l haven't seen this one.)<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Them<span style="font-family: inherit;">e</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></b></span><img src="http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7288/snapshot00022.jpg" height="181" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 95px;" width="320" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The<span style="font-family: inherit;">me has always been one of those elusi<span style="font-family: inherit;">ve things for me in my own w<span style="font-family: inherit;">riting<span style="font-family: inherit;">, bu<span style="font-family: inherit;">t when I see others make u<span style="font-family: inherit;">se of it, I'm impressed. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Th<span style="font-family: inherit;">emes <span style="font-family: inherit;">se<span style="font-family: inherit;">em to speak to the reader/view<span style="font-family: inherit;">er on a different level, inv<span style="font-family: inherit;">oking views o<span style="font-family: inherit;">f the world on them that <span style="font-family: inherit;">he/she may share, and shedding light on <span style="font-family: inherit;">others that aren't so inviting<span style="font-family: inherit;">. This is <span style="font-family: inherit;">done many times through the use of repeated images <span style="font-family: inherit;">(sym<span style="font-family: inherit;">bols), or even <span style="font-family: inherit;">entire scenarios<span style="font-family: inherit;"> looked at in slightly differen<span style="font-family: inherit;">t ways.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two th<span style="font-family: inherit;">emes that <span style="font-family: inherit;">are prominent in The Ring involve parent-child relationships and water. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The first is used to compare and contra<span style="font-family: inherit;">st lov<span style="font-family: inherit;">ing parent-child relatio<span style="font-family: inherit;">nships with those <span style="font-family: inherit;">that <span style="font-family: inherit;">weren't so loving<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or were strained in some way. The other is a <span style="font-family: inherit;">repe<span style="font-family: inherit;">ated theme involving the essen<span style="font-family: inherit;">ce behind where the curse<span style="font-family: inherit;">d video <span style="font-family: inherit;">tape came from. It's a very foreb<span style="font-family: inherit;">oding and oppres<span style="font-family: inherit;">sive elem<span style="font-family: inherit;">ent throughout the <span style="font-family: inherit;">entire story <span style="font-family: inherit;">and serves many purposes</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> - foreshadowing<span style="font-family: inherit;">;</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">setting the ominous, somber mood<span style="font-family: inherit;">;</span> and invo<span style="font-family: inherit;">king other<span style="font-family: inherit;">, de<span style="font-family: inherit;">eper </span></span>symbolism<span style="font-family: inherit;">. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The dark, murky waters shown<span style="font-family: inherit;"> throughout the movie symboli<span style="font-family: inherit;">ze<span style="font-family: inherit;"> death, appropri<span style="font-family: inherit;">ately enough.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twists and Turns</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">SPO<span style="font-family: inherit;">ILER IMAGE OM<span style="font-family: inherit;">ITTED</span></span> </span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;You are on a journey with the m<span style="font-family: inherit;">ain character. So when the main ch<span style="font-family: inherit;">aracter thinks he/she has that <span style="font-family: inherit;">"eur<span style="font-family: inherit;">eka" <span style="font-family: inherit;">m<span style="font-family: inherit;">oment, <span style="font-family: inherit;">you share<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that eu<span style="font-family: inherit;">r<span style="font-family: inherit;">eka moment. But when the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">m.c. s<span style="font-family: inherit;">udden<span style="font-family: inherit;">ly realize<span style="font-family: inherit;">s all he/she <span style="font-family: inherit;">thought was t<span style="font-family: inherit;">rue and right was really a re<span style="font-family: inherit;">d her<span style="font-family: inherit;">rin<span style="font-family: inherit;">g, or not the entire story, you are frustrated in<span style="font-family: inherit;">side like <span style="font-family: inherit;">he/she is. Both of you try to <span style="font-family: inherit;">go through t<span style="font-family: inherit;">he entire story in <span style="font-family: inherit;">your <span style="font-family: inherit;">head. Where could you have gone wrong? Where does the real an<span style="font-family: inherit;">swer lie? You are FULLY hooked into the story at this<span style="font-family: inherit;"> point, and those twists and turns are instr<span style="font-family: inherit;">umental, not so much in <span style="font-family: inherit;">further <span style="font-family: inherit;">hooking the reader, <span style="font-family: inherit;">but <span style="font-family: inherit;">almost in validating <span style="font-family: inherit;">whether th<span style="font-family: inherit;">e reader is truly hooked or n<span style="font-family: inherit;">ot. The <span style="font-family: inherit;">hooked rea<span style="font-family: inherit;">der MUST keep reading now<span style="font-family: inherit;">, because he/she is now fully in<span style="font-family: inherit;">vested.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can'<span style="font-family: inherit;">t really go into <span style="font-family: inherit;">too much detail on how The Ring <span style="font-family: inherit;">t<span style="font-family: inherit;">hrows twists and turns i<span style="font-family: inherit;">nto t<span style="font-family: inherit;">he story. This is part of the reason why I'd love to go back and watch this movie as if I hav<span style="font-family: inherit;">e never seen it before. The <span style="font-family: inherit;">twists and turns are some of the best I've seen in a story.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Satisfying Ending</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">SPO<span style="font-family: inherit;">ILER IMAGE <span style="font-family: inherit;">OMITTED</span></span> </span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">W<span style="font-family: inherit;">hat d<span style="font-family: inherit;">oes it mean to have a satis<span style="font-family: inherit;">fying ending in a story? Yes, it IS satis<span style="font-family: inherit;">fying when the <span style="font-family: inherit;">prince and princess get to<span style="font-family: inherit;">gether at the end and live <span style="font-family: inherit;">happ<span style="font-family: inherit;">i<span style="font-family: inherit;">ly ever after. <span style="font-family: inherit;">But <span style="font-family: inherit;">a story doesn't ha<span style="font-family: inherit;">ve to have a <span style="font-family: inherit;">happily ever <span style="font-family: inherit;">after ending in order to be satisf<span style="font-family: inherit;">ying. The ending simply has to <span style="font-family: inherit;">MAK<span style="font-family: inherit;">E SENSE<span style="font-family: inherit;">. A story has to <span style="font-family: inherit;">h<span style="font-family: inherit;">ave an internal logi<span style="font-family: inherit;">c to it, as strange as<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that lo<span style="font-family: inherit;">gic might be, and the ending has to <span style="font-family: inherit;">follow logical steps <span style="font-family: inherit;">from the beg<span style="font-family: inherit;">inning. <span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>he original conflict has to be resolved, even if the outcome is a ba<span style="font-family: inherit;">d <span style="font-family: inherit;">one. If the beginning of the story foreshadow<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed the e<span style="font-family: inherit;">vents that are pre<span style="font-family: inherit;">sented at the end,</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">t<span style="font-family: inherit;">hen this is definitely </span></span></span>a sure sign the story is a well-co<span style="font-family: inherit;">nstructed one<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, I don't want to give anything away for those Ring v<span style="font-family: inherit;">irgins<span style="font-family: inherit;">. For those who HAVE seen the movie, <span style="font-family: inherit;">would you say </span>the ending a happy one? I wouldn't <span style="font-family: inherit;">say so, personally. But, <span style="font-family: inherit;">the movie HAS to end that way. It makes sense, in its own warped, cursed videotape world logic. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I<span style="font-family: inherit;">n fact, the movie already <span style="font-family: inherit;">hin<span style="font-family: inherit;">ts at h</span></span>ow it's going to end<span style="font-family: inherit;">, right at the begin<span style="font-family: inherit;">ning.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SO<span style="font-family: inherit;">... there y<span style="font-family: inherit;">ou have it. <span style="font-family: inherit;">A nice case st<span style="font-family: inherit;">udy of a st<span style="font-family: inherit;">ellar horror movie<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and <span style="font-family: inherit;">a well<span style="font-family: inherit;">-co<span style="font-family: inherit;">nstru<span style="font-family: inherit;">cted story. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Go out and watch it you<span style="font-family: inherit;">rsel<span style="font-family: inherit;">f if you've never seen it, so you can see what I mean. <span style="font-family: inherit;">If you HAVE seen it before, may<span style="font-family: inherit;">be you never thought of the movie in this way before. <span style="font-family: inherit;">So go out and watch it AGAIN.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy your Halloween, ever<span style="font-family: inherit;">yone<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span>Hope it's a scream!</span></span><br /><br /><img height="229" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.snakkle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/naomi-watts-GC1.jpg" style="margin-top: 31px;" width="320" />George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-68714841475604203212014-10-23T13:04:00.002-04:002014-10-23T13:04:05.458-04:00Show vs. Tell - Halloween EditionHi all<br /><br />I hope you're all ready to enjoy my FAVORITE season of the year. Halloween is coming, and I couldn't be more excited. Unfortunately, it's also my busiest time of the year. The kids are always especially busy with things in the fall.<br /><br />In addition to everything else going on, I'm also in the middle of that short story course I mentioned earlier. Recently, the course covered the obligatory "show vs. tell" topic in relation to the opening paragraph of a short story. I won't go into too many details on the specifics of what's written in the course materials. I wouldn't want to take away from the livelihood of the people who teach and put the course together. <br /><br />I WILL cover the two things you must always remember about your opening paragraph, however, and I think these views are shared by everyone I've ever heard speak on the topic:<br /><br />1. The opening paragraph is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of your short story. If you can't get a reader's interest in that first paragraph, the reader will most likely not want to read on.<br /><br />2. In order to do that, you must immerse the reader in what's happening. The reader has to be invested in the main character and his/her problem, and the reader must be compelled to read on.<br /><br />So in honor of this topic, and in honor of Halloween coming up, I'll share with you a piece of the latest assignment I submitted to the course. It's an opening to a new Halloween-themed story I've been working on. The assignment was to write a "telling" version of the opening paragraph of my story and then to write a "showing" version of the same paragraph.<br /><br />"Telling" opening paragraph:<br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Marvyn made scary cupcakes for Halloween. He was hoping to bring back the essence of Halloween. Halloween had gotten too cute over the years. Marvyn longed for the good ol' days of scary costumes, homemade treats, and scary movies on TV on Halloween night.</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Showing" opening paragraph:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Marvyn applied the frosting tip, and a gash of red appeared in the middle of the zombie's forehead, as if he had slashed at it with a scalpel. Another stroke with a different bag of frosting, and the zombie's skin appeared to pull back from its face. Satisfied, he placed the cupcake next to the others. When the neighbo<span lang="en-US">r</span>hood kids, with their cute mermaid, princess, and robot costumes, came calling this Halloween, he would show them what Halloween was really all about. Unfort<span lang="en-US">u</span>nately, the days of enjoying horror movies on TV were long gone, but that was fine. He'd make his own entertainment.</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm not going to say the "telling" opening paragraph is perfect, but I'm sure you can easily see the differences between the two. Which one would you rather read? Which one makes you part of the scene? Which one introduces the main character better and makes his conflict known? Which ones makes you want to read on?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Here's something to remember when dealing with the opening paragraph of your story that they didn't cover in my course. After you've written your first, second, fifth draft even, always assume your paragraph is a "telling" paragraph, and ask yourself what you can to do add more details and make it a more "showing" paragraph. You can never spend too much time on the first paragraph, so make it shine.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Happy Halloween all, and happy writing!</div>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-27775987937024624092014-09-30T13:10:00.001-04:002014-09-30T13:10:45.574-04:00Back to SchoolHi all<br /><br />It's that time of year. For those of you with kids or who are taking courses of some kind yourself, I'm sure you're already in the thick of things with schoolwork. I happen to work at a university, so I'm still in touch with that kind of thing, but I still felt a little left out, so I decided to do something crazy.<br /><br />I'm taking another writing course.<br /><br />Why? you might ask. What purpose would I need to take ANOTHER writing course? And when am I going to find the time if I can't find the time to write as it is?<br /><br />Let me answer the first question first. Why would I take another course? Because there is ALWAYS something to learn. In fact, I'm sure if you ask most writers, they'll tell you that their entire career is a learning process. Maybe they started out writing science fiction, and then they wanted to transition to Gothic romances. So they learn how to do that. Or maybe they've written adult novels and wanted to try their hand at children's picture books. So they learn how to do THAT. It's easy to get into a comfort zone with your writing, but you grow as a writer when you force yourself out of that comfort zone and try something new.<br /><br />Personally, I feel like I've hit a wall with my writing. I can't seem to get anything to come to fruition these days. Much of it is due to time and other things pulling me away from my writing, but even the things I do find time to finish don't seem to be finding a home. I'm just not "feeling" it anymore. I need a reboot. Besides, in the past I've focused a lot on children's stories, but I have other stories I'd like to tell and am unsure on how to do it.<br /><br />I discovered that along with a brandy new website for my local library, they are now offering online courses of all kinds through Universal Class for free, if I register through my library's site. You can check them out here:<br /><br />https://www.universalclass.com/<br /><br />So I immediately did a search on writing courses, and there are a number of them to choose from. I picked one on writing short stories, called How to Write a Short Story 101, and am already into lesson 2. It's designed as an introductory course, but I'm already learning a couple things I never really knew before. The best part is I can work at my own pace, but there is also a live instructor correcting my assignments. It's structured somewhat like the Institute of Children's Literature courses I've taken in the past, which I always rave about, except there don't seem to be any hard deadlines for this one.<br /><br />As for the second question - When am I going to find time to take this course? - well, there's the rub, right? If I don't have time to write, when am I going to find time to take the course? Ah, but what if I DO find time to take the course? If I have time for that, then I should have time to write, right? It's all psychological. Maybe I need to convince myself I CAN make time for this. <br /><br />So I'm off on another leg of my writing journey. It feels good to be back in school and learning new things! Now if only my kids felt the same way...George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-6096500457962253092014-09-23T12:42:00.001-04:002014-09-23T12:42:27.992-04:00My Top 10 ReadsHi blog readers.<br /><br />Happy first day of fall! I hope you are all enjoying the colors of the season, for those in regions of the world able to see them. That's probably the best part of it for me.<br /><br />Before I get into the guts of my post, just a very short announcement.<br /><br />NEW PUBLISHING NEWS COMING SOON!<br /><br />That is all. (I know, what a tease, right? I promise... more details coming very soon.)<br /><br />Now, to the focus of my post... <br /><br />Recently a writer friend of mine, Kim Curley, asked me to list the top 10 books that have impacted my life. I posted my list on Facebook recently (for those who are interested, I'm "George Kulz" on Facebook - feel free to look me up and connect). I also posted this list on someone else's blog back in 2012. I'm reposting that list here, with my reasons why I chose them.<br /><br />It was hard to narrow the list down to 10, because, let's face it, every book I've ever read has impacted me somehow. Even the ones that just weren't that good have taught me something, even if it's how NOT to write. I've reviewed the original list I put together back in 2012, along with the reasons why I chose them, and I do believe the list stands firm. For now.<br /><br />After you read my list, please let me know what books have impacted YOUR life in the comment section. I'd love to hear all about them.<br /><br />1. The Stand by Stephen King – ultimate tale of good vs. evil in my opinion (except maybe stories in the Bible), focusing on the nature of evil, forgiveness, sacrifice, and faith, which are common in all great pieces of literature.<br /><br />2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – probably the best sci-fi comedy combination out there. First book I ever laughed out loud at when I read it. Unfortunately, it was while I was a teenager in the library. Any book that almost gets me kicked out of the library has to be good.<br /><br />3. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury – this one was on a high school summer reading list, and it was the first summer reading assignment I had that was FUN to read.<br /><br />4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding – I came to this one late in life, and then I kicked myself for not reading it MUCH sooner. Probably the best study of social human beings in literature.<br /><br />5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – again, I came to this one a bit late. I heard John Irving himself read this one, and was blown away by how powerfully written this character’s voice was.<br /><br />6. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell – although classified as sci-fi, this one was powerfully “real” to me, and it was my first exposure to dystopian fiction before it was a thing.<br /><br />7. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz – probably contains Dean Koontz’s most memorable main character in my opinion. He’s the everyman that all of us are, confronting evil with humbleness and faith.<br /><br />8. The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub – first book where I actually cried over a character’s death. Don't judge! You've done it too, admit it!<br /><br />9. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – one of the most powerful, heartfelt, tragic and sad endings of any book I’ve ever read. Plus two of the most vividly painted characters I’ve ever read.<br /><br />10. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss -what can I say? Fun beyond words, for generations before mine, mine, my own kids’, and I hope their kids’ someday.George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-7842028621312002512014-09-15T12:48:00.001-04:002014-09-15T12:48:26.100-04:00How I Spent My Summer Vacation, or My Internal JourneyHi all<br /><br />Sorry I've been noticeably absent from this blog lately. I haven't been doing much writing this summer, so I haven't felt I had much to share. I HAVE, however, accomplished a few non-writing things.<br /><br />I hiked Mt. Washington with my oldest daughter and niece.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10393673_315183985308280_5437384645751162321_n.jpg?oh=4964e5c8c5742c6072a64ba403ef731f&amp;oe=5475F3AC&amp;__gda__=1416572948_7b3f29b0303d76449dd687ad4e2de4f8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10393673_315183985308280_5437384645751162321_n.jpg?oh=4964e5c8c5742c6072a64ba403ef731f&amp;oe=5475F3AC&amp;__gda__=1416572948_7b3f29b0303d76449dd687ad4e2de4f8" width="320" /></a><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10527853_315184005308278_4551014806959518222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10527853_315184005308278_4551014806959518222_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10525987_315184595308219_1173488073169219175_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10525987_315184595308219_1173488073169219175_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />I did a 60-mile bicycle ride along the coast in New Hampshire and raised money for Multiple Sclerosis.<br /><br /><img height="320" src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10626881_277547252449213_2844645608052615246_n.jpg?oh=8b015c2ffd459d8b51fb2ca340b0dbac&amp;oe=546D7E18" width="240" /><br /><br />I achieved the rank of brown belt at my karate dojo.<br /><br /><img height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10570437_276703599200245_4283532016594585824_n.jpg" width="240" /><br /><br />I went camping with a friend of mine before he moved away to Arizona, and also went on a separate camping trip with my family.<br /><br /><img height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10389614_259735987563673_1224822496115836511_n.jpg?oh=867d693462f4a581d57d2968f0f86010&amp;oe=547F6FF1&amp;__gda__=1417550491_b1bc52d0e3fc2282c6958bf09d9389be" width="320" /><br /><br />(NOTE: I didn't put up pictures of my family and friends to protect the innocent, lol. But they were deeply involved in my summer vacation activities.)<br /><br />But wait. I HAVE done a little writing. In fact, I wrote something sort of outside my comfort zone. I wrote a nonfiction piece. An essay. One of the requirements for my karate brown belt.<br /><br />For those who know me, I don't like writing nonfiction. I don't usually like reading it either. To me, most nonfiction is boring, mainly because much of what I've read is written dryly, and not much passion is put into it. So I decided to put a little passion into my essay and make it my own. The topic of the essay was "What does Brown Belt mean to me?". I used the old adage "Write what you know" and tried to tie my own journey to obtaining a brown belt in karate to THE journey. You know, the Hero's (or the Heroine's, depending on which applies) Journey. After all, we are all the heroes/heroines of our own stories.<br /><br />Obtaining a brown belt in karate is a very physically challenging external journey. In fact, it's one of the most physically challenging things I've ever done - even more challenging than hiking Mt. Washington. But what most people probably don't realize is that there's an internal journey that goes on when preparing for a belt test as well. Memorization, focus, and determination are key, obviously, but there are other internal journeys going on as well. Like learning self control, for instance. (I mention this because it's still an ongoing journey with me, lol.) I covered some specific internal journeys in my essay, based on some of the principles taught in class. Maybe at some point I'll post the essay here.<br /><br />What does this have to do with writing, you ask? Your characters in your stories are also on journeys, and they're not just physical, or external, journeys. They're also on a mental, or internal, journey as well. Your characters all WANT something. Maybe your heroine wants to hike Mt. Washington (her external journey) but is afraid of heights (her internal journey). Maybe your hero really loves this woman and wants to have a relationship with her (his external journey) but has anger management issues that he needs to overcome to make that happen (his internal journey).<br /><br />So, to my readers: What were your own journeys this summer? What were the external ones, and one internal ones were going on as well? Write some of these down and use some of these ideas for your characters in your story. You'll find your characters will become more realistic, and your stories will have a greater depth to them.<br /><br />And if anyone would like to share what YOUR journeys were during this past summer vacation, feel free to tell me in the comments.George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-24783723742330694112014-08-13T06:47:00.003-04:002014-08-13T06:47:57.974-04:00Review and Giveaway: Flawed by J. L. Spelbring<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/2014/07/tour-schedule-flawed-by-jl-spelbring.html" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CJRaHAFEWk/U-Kjy19kZAI/AAAAAAAAC18/gMOXoZMDsQQ/s640/FLAWED_banner.jpg" height="200" width="400" /><a href="http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/2014/07/tour-schedule-flawed-by-jl-spelbring.html">http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/2014/07/tour-schedule-flawed-by-jl-spelbring.html</a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406229838l/20823207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flawed (Perfection, #2)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406229838l/20823207.jpg" /></a><br /><b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Title: FLAWED</b><br /><b>Author: J.L. Spelbring</b><br /><b>Publisher: Spencer Hill Press</b><br /><b>Pub. Date: August 12, 2014</b><br /><b>Find it: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20823207-flawed?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939392187/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1939392187&amp;SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flawed-jl-spelbring/1118717644?ean=9781939392183">Barnes and Noble</a></b><br /><br />In a world where Hitler won the The War, and perfection is constantly sought, Ellyssa has broken free from her austere life and has found another meaning for her existence. Family, friendship, and love. <br /><br />But her happiness is short lived. Ellyssa finds herself on the run, again. Her father's work didn't die with him, but lives on in her siblings, Aalexis and Xaver, and they are determined to complete his unfinished dream. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>MY REVIEW</b><br /><br />Warning: some very mild spoilers, although they largely deal with events right at the beginning of the book.<br /><br />Right from the start, I want to say just how impressed I am with Flawed. Since this is the second book in a trilogy, you would think that, like most seconds, this book would be the "sagging middle". Not so with Flawed. There's enough conflict, movement, and twists to keep things going along at a good pace between here and the series finale.<br /><br />The book is impressive right from the very beginning. The book's action picks right off where the last book left off. Ellyssa, Rein, and Woody, having just come back from destroying The Center, find their Renegade hideout has been decimated, along with many of the people who lived there. And here is one point that I'm impressed with. J. L. Spelbring doesn't hold back but daringly goes where you would hope she wouldn't. This is a world ruled by Nazi, Germany, after all, and we all know the atrocities committed by them.<br /><br />The plot's main focus is on the surviving Renegades who are on a search for their friends who were not killed but have been captured by the Nazis. At the same time, the plot also follows the movements of Ellyssa's surviving brother and sister, Aalexys and Xaver, who are bent on finding Ellyssa and continuing their creator's experiments to create the perfect human race. In addition to these main plot points, there are also plenty of other personal conflicts the characters in the story must face. Each character is incredibly fleshed out in this story. I especially enjoyed watching the three siblings, Ellyssa, Aalexyis, and Xaver, and how they each handle their own abilities, as well as how they develop relationships with other characters in the story despite being raised to turn off all emotion to become perfect fighting machines.<br /><br />Finally, there is definitely romance in this book. I have grown to appreciate the relationship between Ellyssa and Rein in this story and how strong the bond is between these two characters. I think in an earlier review of Perfection (check out said review here:&nbsp;<a href="http://georgesbackloggedreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-perfection-by-j-l-spelbring.html">http://georgesbackloggedreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-perfection-by-j-l-spelbring.html</a>) I mentioned I thought the relationship between Ellyssa and Rein went a little too fast, but by this point their relationship seems very natural, and this is in fact one of the strong points of the novel as far as I'm concerned. Rein's love for Ellyssa empowers her, and her learning to give in and trust her emotions, especially concerning Rein, strengthens her character even more.<br /><br />Overall, I rate this book a 4 1/2 out of 5, and the only reason I take that 1/2 off is because the book has some obvious typos in it. I only mention this so that if someone from Spencer Hill Press runs across this review they'll be aware. But believe me, this is the only thing I could find even remotely negative to say.<br /><br />I highly recommend you check out both Perfection and Flawed!<br /><br />Thank you Rockstar Book Tours, Spencer Hill Press, and J. L. Spelbring for the opportunity to review this book!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zEUHpiiupeE/U-KwX5RkMCI/AAAAAAAAC2M/KCxX6qc0zFk/s1600/JL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zEUHpiiupeE/U-KwX5RkMCI/AAAAAAAAC2M/KCxX6qc0zFk/s320/JL.jpg" height="240" style="font-style: inherit;" width="320" /></a><b>ABOUT J. L. SPELBRING</b><br /><br />J.L. Spelbring lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her. Her novel, Perfection, released in July, 2013, and the sequel, Flawed, releases August, 2014. <br /><br /><br /><b>To contact J.L, try:&nbsp; <a href="http://jlspelbring.blogspot.com/">Website</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/j.l.spelbring.perfection">Facebook</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://twitter.com/jlspelbring">Twitter</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5774905.J_L_Spelbring">Goodreads</a></b><br /><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73514"><br /></div><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73514"><span class="yiv5841266212" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73539"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73538"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73537" style="color: windowtext;">Giveaway Details:</span></b></span><br /><span class="yiv5841266212"><b><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRcVGlZ62P4/U-qNZQzALeI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8IC5nuZ8O_Y/s1600/Butterfly%2BNecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRcVGlZ62P4/U-qNZQzALeI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8IC5nuZ8O_Y/s1600/Butterfly%2BNecklace.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div><span class="yiv5841266212"><b><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><b><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73516"><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: windowtext;">1 Butterfly Necklace US Only.</span><br /><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406229838l/20823207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flawed (Perfection, #2)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406229838l/20823207.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73517"><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv5841266212" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73519"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73518" style="color: windowtext;">1 finished copy of FLAWED US Only.</span></span></div><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73520"><span class="yiv5841266212"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br clear="none" /></span></span></div><div class="yiv5841266212MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73521"><span class="yiv5841266212" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73523"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTIzODliYTI4ZTEzMGVjODBhNzA2MmFmMTU3YWM3OjE5Ng==/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1407766407094_73522" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">ENTER HERE!</a><span style="color: windowtext;"><br clear="none" /></span></span></div><br /><br />George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-7841394299160972042014-08-12T09:28:00.000-04:002014-08-12T09:28:58.304-04:00New Release by Talented Author J. L. Spelbring, and Book Blog TourHi all<br /><br />My talented author friend, J. L. Spelbring, has just released her new book, Flawed, today. It is the second book in her Perfection series.&nbsp; Normally, I post book reviews on the George's Backlogged Book Reviews page, but because my review is part of her book tour, I'll post it to my main blog in addition to the book reviews page. <br /><br />The book review will be up tomorrow morning before 8:00 AM EST, so stay tuned!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-21150772765036399852014-08-04T21:18:00.003-04:002014-08-04T21:18:50.922-04:00More Blog Hop FunHi all!<br /><br />One of the authors I tagged for the blog hop has put her blog post up. Check out Kim Curley's blog here:<br /><br />http://cupcakesblogcorner.blogspot.com/?m=1<br /><br />Stay tuned for the other author's post, coming soon!George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-37888748982071193522014-07-30T08:39:00.000-04:002014-07-30T08:58:39.162-04:00Blog Hop<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Hi all</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Well, here are the prom</span><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">ised </span><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">blog hop questions. I was tagged by Nancy Tupper Ling to participate. Please visit her blog and her answers:</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://nancytupperling.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-first-blog-hop.html">http://nancytupperling.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-first-blog-hop.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am now tagging two others to participate:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://cupcakesblogcorner.blogspot.com/">Kim Curley</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://jlspelbring.blogspot.com/">J. L. Spelbring</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click the links above to check out their blogs, &nbsp;and watch for their answers to the blog hop questions soon.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, here are my answers:</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">–What are you currently working on?</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I am currently working on two middle grade novels. <i>Oliver and the Underlings</i> is a fantasy which is complete and is currently out to agents right now. I may do edits if I get some really good feedback from agents or from my critique partners. <i>The Vanilla Wafer Chronicles: The Case of the Missing Pin</i> is a mystery in its final stages of editing. I have plenty of folders with other novel and short story ideas that I'll pull out from time to time to work on, but those two are the main focus right now.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">–How does my work differ from others of its genre?</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"> <i>Oliver and the Underlings</i>:</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I like to think Oliver and the Underlings is a new look at the whole "monster in the closet" meme. I've seen plenty of stories that take popular myths and put a new spin on them, but for my story I wanted to create a brand new mythology. Also, its uniqueness comes not just from the high concepts involved but the characters, with their own personal problems and stories, that populate the novel. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><i>The Vanilla Wafer Chronicles: The Case of the Missing Pin</i>:</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">First of all, I don't know too many people who have written stories with a main character with a head injury. The &nbsp;ones I have seen are all adult mystery stories, usually involving main characters who are trying to solve a murder in which they are the main suspects. What I did was try to write to take this concept and apply it to someone who is in elementary school. Yes, the main character is the prime suspect in a crime, although it's not anything as serious as a murder. But in addition to this, I also explore other concepts that hit home to kids of that age: concepts of acceptance, building friendships, dealing with bullies, trying to make it in school when you're disadvantaged somehow, dealing with the death of a parent, etc.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">–Why do I write what I write?</span></b></span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I basically write what I love to read. Which is: anything that's a little off beat. I tend to read a lot of horror and fantasy stories for adults and children, because, let's face it, you can't get any more off beat than those genres. I write for both adults and children, but mostly for children. The reason for this is that I loved to read as a child, and I would love to give that love of reading to other children as well. Also, I've been finding that fantasy and horror stories written for children seem to be a lot more interesting to me. I find the concepts explored to be more experimental. There are just certain things that just don't happen often in adult novels. You don't see many adult novels with adult characters attending wizard school, or interacting with technologically advanced fairies, for example. There's a lot more risk-taking in children's fiction. Adult characters, like real adults, can be too skeptical, too unbelieving, too rational. But children still have that sense of wonder, so when fantastic things start to happen, fantastic things start to happen to THEM.&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">–How does my individual writing process work?</span></b></span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #555544;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">My writing process is a little bizarre. Mainly because I just don't have the time to devote to writing like most people do. I have a full-time day job as a software engineer, and when I get home, I have responsibilities to my wife, four kids, three cats, and a dog. So when do I find time to write? Whenever I can. Most of the time, I spend about three days during my work week doing some writing during my lunch breaks. Other than that, I squeeze writing in while I'm sitting at the karate dojo while my kids take karate, or the few minutes before their soccer games start, or while I'm waiting for my wife while she's in the store. Lately it's been a big help to me to put all my documents in Google Docs. That way I have 24/7 access to them with any device (laptop, tablet, phone) I happen to have with me at the time.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I get my ideas from walking down this particular street in my town. They come from the sky, WHAM, in burlap sacks, except instead of dollar signs printed on the sides, they have story titles... Okay, I'm kidding. Who really knows where ideas come from? But when they come, and they stick in my brain a while, I make sure to create a new folder on my computer and jot it down. I may never get to it again, but it's there, and when I get stuck on current projects, I like to pull out those ideas and play around with them to see if I can get a story to form. </span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">As for how I write, my first drafts pretty much are off the cuff. Most things I write I don't plan ahead of time. They just come out and I write them down exactly as I first see them in my mind. I never go back and edit during this process. If I do that, I find it kills my momentum to get my stories written down and finished. As I said above, I don't have a lot of time to write. Going back and tinkering with anything will seriously kill what little time I have.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Once the first draft is complete, I start the editing process. I don't have a set number of passes that I go through when I edit. Maybe I should. I just go through the document enough times so that I'm comfortable with showing it to people. At that point, I'll start bringing these later drafts to my critique groups for their opinions. And then I go through multiple edits after that until I have addressed everything I feel needs addressing.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then, it's subbing time! And while I do that, I write something else. Otherwise, I'd go mad.</span></span></span> </span></span></div>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-28077698632193171522014-07-22T12:35:00.000-04:002014-07-22T12:35:05.473-04:00Coming Up Next...Hi all<br /><br />Sorry for my absence. Real life has been pretty hectic lately. I just wanted to announce a few things that are coming up on the blog, as well as tie up a couple loose ends.<br /><br />First, I don't know if I explicitly announced this or not, but the winner was revealed related to the Blog Critique Tour contest on Miss Snark's First Victim's blog, here:<br /><br /><a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2014/07/blog-critique-tour-winner-of-free-edit.html">http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2014/07/blog-critique-tour-winner-of-free-edit.html</a><br /><br />Congratulations to J K Wise, and thank you to all who participated and especially those who were kind enough to leave me feedback on my own writing sample. Those comments are still being digested, and I know my writing will be better for them.<br /><br />Second, I was tagged a little who ago by my good writer friend, Kim Curley, to do an interview on her blog. In case anyone missed it, you can read the interview here:<br /><br /><a href="http://cupcakesblogcorner.blogspot.com/2014/07/authorinterview-george-kulz-my-guest.html">http://cupcakesblogcorner.blogspot.com/2014/07/authorinterview-george-kulz-my-guest.html</a><br /><br />Feel free to wander around her blog and check out what else she's up to. Soon I'll be interviewing her as well, so stay tuned for that!<br /><br />Third, I have a bunch of new reviews coming soon: <br /><br />1. Thumbprint, a graphic novel by Joe Hill (son of the famous Stephen King and an incredible writer in his own right). I finished this one a while back but haven't written the review yet.<br />2. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, by Holly Black. Again, finished this one some time ago but haven't written a review yet. This was one of the books I got from BEA 2013.<br />3. Altered, by Gennifer Albin. This is the second book in her Crewel World series. I'm about 3/4 of the way through reading this one. This was another book I got from BEA 2013.<br />4. Flawed, by J. L. Spelbring. This is the second book in her Perfection series. I should be starting to read this one soon. The review will be part of a blog tour she is doing during the month of August.<br />5. Blackfin Sky, by Kat Ellis. This is her debut novel, and I should also be starting to read this one soon. I'm shooting to have a review for it up by the time the book debuts here in the U.S. in September.<br /><br />Finally, I've been tagged to answer a few questions by fellow author and friend Nancy Tupper Ling for a blog hop she's participating in. I'll be posting the answers to the blog hop questions on my blog soon, as well as tagging two others to participate. In the meantime, you can check out what the questions are and her answers to them here on her blog, and check out other exciting things this talented author is up to:<br /><br /><a href="http://nancytupperling.blogspot.com/">http://nancytupperling.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />That's all for now. Thanks for reading!<br /><br /><br />George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-3946563382495095812014-07-15T16:21:00.003-04:002014-07-15T16:21:36.312-04:00Check out Weird Al's New Song: Word CrimesHi all<br /><br />I'm taking time out of my normal blog writing to promote what I consider to be an absolutely brilliant song and video by Weird Al Yankovic. All writers or anyone who has ever taught English in school will love and relate to this.<br /><br />Check it out!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc</a>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5571213985050681949.post-38661632864872121982014-07-09T12:07:00.000-04:002014-07-15T12:21:15.984-04:00Miss Snark's First Victim #BLOGPITCH Contest<span style="color: red;">UPDATE 7/15/14</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">I was away on vacation for the weekend but wanted to pop back in here and say thank you again to everyone who left comments about my story. Your comments will be extremely helpful. Thank you also to Authoress for her kindness and generosity, always! :-)</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">UPDATE: 7/11/14&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">First, thank you ALL for your AWESOME feedback! I'm very impressed with the level of critiques I've received, and I'm sure all of it will be very helpful getting this book into publishable shape.</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">Second, if you would still like to leave critiques on any of the entries for Miss Snark's First Victim's Blog Critique Tour and have your critique count as an entry into Authoress's contest, you must leave your critiques before midnight EDT! I won't be blocking any further comments after that time, and you're free to leave comments, but be aware your critique will not be eligible for the contest.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">UPDATE: 7/9/14</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Today the Blog Critique Tour portion of the contest goes live. If you want to take part, feel free to leave me critiques in the COMMENTS section of my blog. Make sure if you're leaving critique to post under a name other than Anonymous, otherwise you won't be entered for a chance to win. I'm including a link at the bottom of my original blog post to Miss Snark's First Victim's blog which explains the rules and also has all the other amazing authors' blogs so you can critique all 10 of our writing samples. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">Enjoy, and thanks!!</span><br /><br />ORIGINAL BLOG POST <br /><br />Hi all.<br /><br />So I have some exciting news. I've just been selected to take part in Miss Snark's First Victim's #BLOGPITCH contest!<br /><br />Round one of the contest has already passed. Contestants entered their Twitter pitches with the hashtag #BLOGPITCH on Twitter, and 10 pitches were selected by Authoress, the anonymous but amazing author behind the Miss Snark's First Victim blog. For the next phase, each of the 10 winners will post loglines and the first 250 words of their books on their blogs for critique. For every critique given to one of the 10 winners, the critiquer is entered into another contest to win a 15-page critique by Authoress. All loglines and writing samples will be posted on the winners' blogs by Wednesday, July 9, where critiquing will begin and end by midnight Friday, July 11.<br /><br />For more details on this contest, and for other writing related resources, tips, and contests, visit <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/">Miss Snark's First Victim: a blog for aspiring authors</a>.</span><br /><br />I'm excited to be part of this for a bunch of different reasons:<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - I get to receive valuable feedback on my logline and writing sample<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - I get to help other authors out there by providing the same feedback for them<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - I get to connect with more authors who are hoping to be published someday like I am<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - I get to give my readers a glimpse of one of the many things I'm up to these days with my writing<br /><br />And finally:<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - I get to turn you all on to Miss Snark's First Victim's website, a valuable resource for writers.<br /><br />So, without further ado, here is my logline for my middle-grade mystery novel I'm working on, <i>The Vanilla Wafer Chronicles: The Case of the Missing Pin</i>:<br /><br /><i>Brain-injured Jason becomes a detective to solve the case of the school bully's missing pin. Why? Jason is the number one suspect.</i><br /><br />Here is a 250-word excerpt from Chapter 1:<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jason Roberts slumped in his seat, lost in his usual fog. Ms. Iafrate strutted around the room, lost in her lecture on electricity, but all the important points seemed to blow away before his ears could trap them and deliver them to his brain.</span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jason rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a pad to take notes. A tap on his shoulder startled him.</span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Hey, weird kid," a boy sitting behind him said. "What's with the notebook?"</span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jason looked around. None of the other kids in the class had notebooks. Apparently, they had photographic memories. Unlike him, who had no memory at all. "Nothing," Jason mumbled and put the notebook away. </span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Ms. Iafrate rambled on, Jason sighed. Why couldn't she slow down for a minute? He rolled his eyes up into his head, as if somehow the ideas had made it to his brain anyway and all he had to do was look for them.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ms. Iafrate's voice broke through his thoughts. "Who would like to volunteer for The Experiment?"</span></span></i></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jason shuddered. He pictured the capital "T" and "E" in his mind when he thought of Ms. Iafrate's evil experiments. She clearly designed them to embarrass the students. Two days ago, The Experiment dealt with static electricity. Ms. Iafrate had instructed Jason to rub a balloon on a piece of carpet and then touch it to his head. For the rest of the day, he couldn’t seem to comb his hair back into place. A bunch of kids called him Porcu-Jay all that afternoon.</span></span></span></i><br /><br />I'll be putting up a quick post when all the other winners from the first round of the contest have been posted on Miss Snark's First Victim's blog (which should be on Wednesday, July 9). At that time, you can go check out all the loglines and writing samples based on the other winning Twitter pitches and leave your critique for a chance to win the 15-page critique.<br /><br />Enjoy, and let the critiques fly!<br /><br />END ORIGINAL BLOG POST<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">LINK TO BLOG CRITIQUE TOUR RULES AND ALL 10 AUTHORS' BLOGS:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2014/07/blog-critique-tour.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404908931073_3882" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2014/07/blog-critique-tour.html</a></span>George Kulzhttps://plus.google.com/112012112470655124864noreply@blogger.com23